Office hoilday party costs?

[Darcy03231]

Both DH's and mine are free. Both are elegant formal affairs with 3-4 course meals and open bar all night.

 

[C.Ann]

I have never been to a company Christmas party that I have had to pay to attend

My DH's company's Christmas party is a very elegant affair. The company views it as a way to give back to all the employees for working so hard for them throughout the year.

We've never had to pay for any event the company has held (Christmas party, family picnic, retirement parties, etc).

Both DH's and mine are free. Both are elegant formal affairs with 3-4 course meals and open bar all night.

This has always been the case with us (before my DH passed away) - and DD and her DH as well..

I've never heard of having to pay to attend an office/company Christmas party.. I guess it could be due to the economy..

 

[Katy Belle]

That is a lot of $!

This year, due to the economy, the office party is more low key. It is at the clubhouse in the compound where the Head Dude lives. Finger foods. Probalby wine. In the past they've had dinners at nice hotels, usually buffet, given us 2drink tickets each, and had a DJ. We've never had to pay anything, unless you wanted more to drink.

 

[Silent1CB]

I have never been to a company Christmas party that I have had to pay to attend

Me either.
And ours were always called Year End Parties.

These days, our office party is more apt to be everyone bringing in a dish to share & closing the office early or for a longer lunch period and everyone sharing a meal together in the lunch room.

I remember the company parties all paid for by the company. 500-1000 people over the years as we expanded. Wonderful multi-course sit down meals at the fanciest place in town. Open bar. A gift for everyone from the local jewelry store that everyone loved to get a purple box from. Usually a clock or something like that. And entertainment for the evening (like a magician) in addition to the band or DJ. Its also the night we would find out how much our bonuses would be. Ahhhh, those were the days.

Great company who also held a Christmas party where each child received an age/gender appropriate WRAPPED gift. I loved going to the wrapping party for this party. Soooo many toys to wrap & stockings to fill with candy!

AND we received a box of grapefruit shipped to each house each year from our President! He was a great guy who knew the value of good employees.

 

[charming23]

The one I went to was when I worked for a large grocery store. It was free for the employees and a guest of their choice. It was held in an old party hall and was a blast. They combined it with our annual meeting and we got our bonus' along with a giftcard to be used for a holiday meal, and a present that we picked out while playing a game. It was an alchol free party as 50% of the employees were underage.

 

[jme829]

We just went to DH annual party on Saturday...The only thing we had to pay for was alcoholic drinks , but since neither of us drink...it didn't cost anything (soda was free). His party is for the whole company (office people and factory people)

The menu was prime rib, roast stuffed pork loin, roasted red potatoes, green beans, tortellini, 2 different salads, breads, and dessert.

They also have a drawing (for the employees only-not spouses) where they give away gift cards, sport tickets, paid days off, and cash (grand prize was $500 cash and paid day off)....My DH won tickets for the Minnesota Wild game in February (Hockey), so it was a pretty productive night for us!

My party is just a small get together potluck at one of my coworkers houses (I work at a HS kitchen). Nothing fancy, small gift exchange and bring a dish.

 

[lecach]

We dont have a Holiday party although individual departments do - but I think it's usually lunch and pay for yourself. I go to the one for the CEO and department heads since I am the assistant to the CEO. Really it's a retreat in december where we do business until lunch time and then the company pays for lunch at a restaurant. Alcohol is allowed. This year its at a local taproom restaurant that has like 50 different draft beers. I planned it

We're a non profit retirement community so things are a bit more low key here. Formal affairs - or events where you had to pay - would NOT go over well with our mostly hourly staff.

 

[pixiewings71]

We just went to DH annual party on Saturday...The only thing we had to pay for was alcoholic drinks , but since neither of us drink...it didn't cost anything (soda was free). His party is for the whole company (office people and factory people)

The menu was prime rib, roast stuffed pork loin, roasted red potatoes, green beans, tortellini, 2 different salads, breads, and dessert.

They also have a drawing (for the employees only-not spouses) where they give away gift cards, sport tickets, paid days off, and cash (grand prize was $500 cash and paid day off)....My DH won tickets for the Minnesota Wild game in February (Hockey), so it was a pretty productive night for us!

My party is just a small get together potluck at one of my coworkers houses (I work at a HS kitchen). Nothing fancy, small gift exchange and bring a dish.

This menu is almost exactly what we get, we get chicken instead of the pork loin tho. Otherwise it's basically the same! Ours is this Friday, we get to work a half day and we don't pay for our food. We usually get 2 drink tickets (our drink tickets are guitar picks with a Christmas wish on them) and anything over that we pay for, but I don't like to mix work and alcohol (I'm a total lightweight, a glass of wine and I'm tipsy) so I usually give mine away. In years past we've received a $25 gift card to Safeway as well, we do not get a Christmas Bonus. Our company has about 200 employees right now, and yes, the temps are allowed to come to the party as well.

DBF's company does a party at the company owner's home, it is also free but we don't go. It's a bit of a drive so we just skip it.

 

[samshane]

Last year we had to pay to go to Dh's - I believe it was $30/person with a cash bar (sodas were free).

I work for a state community college - we have a small potluck at someone's house for our department.

 

[Halloweenqueen]

My husband's company really goes all out for their employees. There is formal dinner for adults only next Saturday. The following Saturday is the employee children's party. They hold it at a local pizza place and Santa comes with presents and candy. The kids love it.

The company always has company nights at baseball, hockey games etc. And a company picnic is held every summer.

All free.

 

[Rafiki31]

One of my old jobs had a Holiday party that was 50 bucks per person and you had to pay for guests so yest nhat is 100 per couple. It was free for managers, which we thought a little unfair. We all decided to take our cash and boycott, and we went to a local Chinese resteraunt and had our own party. It ended up being WAY less expensive and we had fun drinks.

My current company has no Christmas or Holiday party. They just pretend it does not exist. lol.

I have always wanted to work somewhere with a Holiday bonus!

Pakey, is your place hiring? Sounds like a great place to work.